Place: Chapel of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary on the campus of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Join us as we break new ground in understanding Ellen White and issues relating to her life, ministry, and prophetic gift. All are invited to attend free of charge. Speakers this year include Mike Oxentenko, Ron du Preez, David Williams, Tim Poirier, Stan Hickerson, Jerry Moon, and Denis Fortin. For information on attending the Ellen White Issues Symposium please call the Center for Adventist Research at (269) 471-3209. We look forward to seeing you on the last Monday in March. Though this will be an academic symposium it is our intention that it also provide spiritual encouragement and inspiration for those who attend.

David WilliamsAn Historical Theology of Ellen G. White's Experience of and Teachings on Music During the Writing of The Desire of Ages while in Australia from 1892–1898
Response: Hyveth Williams
Facilitator: Kevin Burton

The purpose of this symposium is to break new ground in understanding Ellen White and issues relating to her life, ministry, and prophetic gift that have current importance. The structure of the symposium will have some elements of academic formality. Papers will be presented with a prepared response followed by brief responses from the presenters. The papers presented will later be published in a journal that will be available at a reasonable cost. At the symposium we will also make available the published presentations from the 2005 through the 2013 symposiums. At the meeting there will be an opportunity to submit questions relating to Ellen White issues. We will attempt to discuss as many of these question as time will allow in the afternoon.

Symposium Presenters

Mike Oxentenko, MDiv, is president of the Reaching Hearts International and pastor of a vibrant young church plant in Spencerville, Maryland in the Allegheny East conference. Prior to this Oxentenko has pastored churches in Michigan and Maryland. In addition, he has a radio program, Reaching Your Heart, which is aired daily.

Ron du Preez, ThD., DMin, holds doctoral degrees in missions and ethics, and is currently completing a third in New Testament Studies. He is a respected scholar and inspirational speaker who has served the Lord, through the Seventh-day Adventist Church (on four continents), as a university professor, administrator, and missionary; and is currently pastoring in the Oregon Conference.

David Williams, MSM, is currently a Ph.D. student in Church History, Systematic Theology, and Musicology at Andrews University. Williams is assistant Professor of Christian Ministry in Liturgy, Worship, and Sacred Music at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. He has studied extensively in Europe with leading artists in organ, additionally spending a year in the Netherlands receiving instruction from Sietze de Vries in improvisation.

Tim Poirier, M.T.S., is Vice Director and Archivist of the Ellen G. White Estate at the World Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he has been employed since 1981. Among his major projects have been the Ellen White CD-ROMs and the forthcoming annotated volume of Ellen White’s earliest letters and manuscripts.

Stanley D. Hickerson, M. Div., Annotations Editor for the Ellen G. White ® Estate and Adjunct Professor of Religion and Biblical Languages at Andrews University. He has been researching Adventist history for forty-two years and has a special interest in locating historic sites. A contributor to the upcoming Ellen G. White Encyclopedia, he has written on today’s topic and continues researching the homes and lives of James and Ellen White and other Adventist pioneers.

Jerry Moon, Ph.D., is associate professor and chair of the Church History Department in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He is also editor of Andrews University Seminary Studies. He is co-editor of the Ellen G. White Encyclopedia.

Denis Fortin, Ph.D., Professor of Theology and a member of the Seminary faculty since 1994. He has authored several publications on Adventist history and theology, including his 2004 Adventism in Quebec: The Dynamics of Rural Church Growth, 1830-1910. He is co-editor of the Ellen G. White Encyclopedia.

We are located in rural southwestern Michigan and if you are within 300 miles of Andrews, the cheapest way to get here is by car. If you are coming from further away or would just prefer taking the bus, Greyhound serves the nearby town of Benton Harbor, just 12 miles from the campus. You can also take the train, the closest station with an Amtrak service is Niles, 15 minutes from campus.

If you are thinking about flying to Andrews, the closest airport is South Bend Regional Airport. Many students, friends and visitors of Andrews also fly into the Chicago O'Hare or Midway airport and then take the Coach USA bus service to nearby South Bend, Indiana.

Driving Directions

From the North and West

From the East

From the South

Take I-94 to exit 28.
Take US 31 south approximately 11 miles to Berrien Springs.
Turn left at J.N. Andrews Blvd.

Take the Indiana Toll Road (I80/90) to the South Bend west exit.
Take US 31 north approximately 15 miles to Berrien Springs.
Take exit 15A; turn right at the stop sign.
Go about half a mile, then turn left at J.N. Andrews Blvd.

Take US 31 north to Berrien Springs, located about 15 miles north of the Indiana border.
Take exit 15A; turn right at the stop sign.
Go about half a mile, then turn left at J.N. Andrews Blvd.